Knockdown chair



W. L. SHEPHERDSON Feb. 16, 19 54 KNOCKDOWN CHAIR Filed Nov. 13, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 uvmvron. N/LL/AM Z.//EP///?0$0M BY v ATTORNEY Feb. 16, 1954 W. L.. SH EPH ERDSON KNOCKDOWN CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 1;, 1951 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNBK Patented Feb. 16, 1954 KNOCKDOWN CHAIR William L. Shepherdson, Phoenix, of sixty-six and two-thirds per Ariz., assignor cent to J. E.

Meacham, Phoenix, Ariz.

Application November 13, 1951, Serial No. 255,979

7 Claims.

This invention pertains to improvements in articles of furniture and ismore particularly directed to knock-down type of furniture which may be readily assembled into a rigid inter-locked solid structure without the use of special tools or fastenings of any kind.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an improved knock-down type of furniture having a rigid inter-locking structure and self contained locking devices which may be adjustably arranged to at all times hold the furniture in rigid condition.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved knock-down type of furniture in which there is provided novel corner locking and supporting devices together with improved toggle action clamp mechanism of adjustable character adapted to maintain a rigid structure for the knock-down item of furniture under all conditions.

Still another object of this invention is to provide furniture of a knock-down type having interlocking mechanism for holding the assembled furniture in rigid condition while at the same time permitting its rapid and quick disassembly for purposes of packaging, shipping and storage with a minimum of wasted space.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a basic furniture structure having a minimum series of elements which may be assembled or disassembled and which are interlocked into a rigid positive assembly when in use.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a basic furniture element such as a chair with a series of three essential elements and a seat member, the seat member of which is assembled by suitable mounting means associated with the seat and which interlocks with the remaining chair elements as the seat is swung rearwardly and downwardly to a locked position and wherein suitable latching and locking devices of novel design are brought into play to'hold the entire chair structure together without the assistance of tools, loose parts or special clamping devices sepa rate from the chair structure.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved latching and pressure clamping device for holding the chair structure together while at the same time lending itself to immediate release of the chair members and folding of the various parts for placement in a shipping carton or container with a minimum of space and effort being required.

Further features and advantages of this invention will appear from a detailed description of the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment in a chair structure of the novel features forming this article of furniture,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the back element of the chair of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an inside elevation of the left hand side frame member of the chair of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one of the latching elements of the chair side frame of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the mating latch element carried on the chair seat.

Fig. 6 is an under side view partly in section of the legs of the chair, showing the bottom of the chair seat and associated latching and clamping and locking devices associated therewith.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line l'! of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view on the line 88 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged view similar to that of Fig. 8 but showing the locking device completely released for removal of the chair seat and disassembly of the chair structure.

For illustrative purposes this invention is shown applied to a chair, and it is to be understood that various other forms of furniture both as to design and construction may readily be adapted to the utilization of the features and principles of this invention.

As exemplary of one embodiment of this invention there is shown a chair having a back member or element B and a pair of leg members A and C and a cooperating seat member S which is arranged to be placed on and secured to the aforementioned back and side frame members by novel latching and locking means to provide a rigid chair structure. The back member B comprises the top rail member In having depending spindles II which are rigidly connected at their lower end to the back cross rail I2. Dowel receiving holes l3 are formed on the outer under edges of the back member l0 and dowel pins are formed at M I on the lower rail member 12.

A pair of side frame members are also provided such as the left band member shown in Fig. 3 comprising the back supporting leg member l5 having an upstanding portion [Ed on top of which is formed a dowel I 6 for engagement in the holes I 3 of the back member B and also provided with a dowel receiving hole I! for receiving the dowels M of the member l2. Front legs it: are also provided for the side frame members A and C which are connected at their upper.

ends by side rails I 9 securely fixed in a well known manner to the leg members I5 and I8, the legs I5 and I8 being further tied together by the usual rung 2!). Fixed on the inside of the side rails IQ of the side frame members A and C adjacent each of the legs l5 and 18 are the latching plates 2| secured to the inside face 22 of the side rails is by suitable wood screws 23.

The plate 2| has an edge 24 turned over at 90 degrees to the plate portion 2| and in which there are provided elongated perforations 25 and 25 adjacent'the outward'iface of the memb-eri 2|, as best seen inFig.4. 5

Associated with the back member B and the side frame members A and C is the seat mem ber S, as best shown in Fig. 6. The scan-memes. ber S is provided with a pair of dowel receiving holes 21 which snugly fit Iover the upstandingdowels 28 rigidly fixed in the tops of the legs -18 of the side frames of the chair. The back portion of the seat has abutment-surfaces which a I engage the front faces 30 of the legs l5 of the side frames A and C. Side contacting surfaces or interfaces 3| on the legs l5 engage the end faces '32 of the?IGZIQI'aHZi34and'lthe? faces :ofthe rear portion of the seats.

On the underside of the front'and rear of the chair seat member srtheretarespivotally mounted; the front rail L-andrthenrear z-railrz34 eachr of which is carriediforfswingingi movlementtaround an axis 34a forming the hinge piniiof' agmemberz: having a base "plate-3.5 .se'curedirto" thesunderrside of 'the' seat memberi sas"byttsuitablei':screwsv36 and :having theothers-member ".31 iisecuredi' by screws 38 to the insidexsurfacesof the respective members i 33 and234i :Adjustably"mounted'onthe:- base member" 35 by' radjustingsiscrews carried in tappedholesflfl in ithememberfl is the toggle 30 clamp carrying member? 4| hav'ingjelongated holes=42 throughwhich maSSTlZ'hBTSGIQWS 39 which, when loosened, permit bodily adjustment-of the member! I to and'fr'om zthe. respectiuerfrontrand rear rails 33 andr34..-v Preferablyserrated :sur-zz35 faces are-provided:at'43"bfetween the'amembers;i I 35 and 4| so as to eifectrrigidiholdingliof: the two members together when otheriscrews 9' are: appropriately tightenedr:

On' the outer 'end" of the'lmem'ber .41 on a: 'Sl1i1J-: able hinge pin. 44; is mountedithe-latchingffinger'i 45 which has apairqof'integral'lugs-'4B' -andian' abutment stop surface 41 which engagesothe=-top=x surface 48 of theimember 4| -when infullyslocked in position. On :theouter' end: ofthe' member-31 is a U-shaped' wire"hasp" member't49 having" a longitudinal bar member 50" which snugly fits in mating 'notche's '5l formedain theiugs 46 of the member 45, the outer'i'end'of th'e'hasp' meme ber' 49 being pivotally mounted-0n 'a suitable 5o hinge pin at fila'on'the member 31. Th'us' when" the member is fully clamped up the'hinge pin 44 and the bar portion he in a: line 52 while the bar member-50 and the hinge pin5| lie in a-line" 53 which is bent" inwardlyor in toggleaction 55 position of lockingfrom the normal outward I swung position regarding arline' -54 :extendin'gbe-" tween the two hinge pins=44and 5| when in clamped up position so as to normally 'causeathe finger member '45 'to' be biasedand urged into'oo position Withits stopsurface 41 up'iagainst the surface 48 of the member 4| holding the side members in outward'sw-ung position;

When assembling the ichair, the side "frame" members A and C are*- assembled with their -re-" spective dowels I5 and holes H with'the respec tive dowel holes l3 and-dowels-|4 of the back member B. The seat memberwisthenplaced in tiltedp'osition Sa shown-in Fig. 3 Withits dowel. receiving o enings'zi placed'over the dowels 28 on top of the front'degs 18. :At this tim the front and rear rail members-33 "and'34 are-swung:

.to retracted position :as shown in where,

the front railis shown forrexampl'erat "33a'2withi the haspmembenAQ-but stretchedragainst:thew

" notchesr2-5-and: 26 respectivelylof the 4 clamp finger 45 which has also been swung up against the seat as shown around its axis of pivoting 44. The seat is then swung down into position with titsgabutmentlxsurfaces ;2 9 and 3| engaging "the -respective surfaces 30 and 32 of the back leg members of the side frames A and C as described. After the seat has thus been forcedhome by downward swinging movement as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, the front and rearirailrzrnembers 1.33 and 34 are then swung downwardly-and outwardly to a position such as 33bshown in Fig. 9 and the hasp member 49 brought into .engagement with the notches 50 and the lugs 46. The front and rear rail mem- "bers 33 and 34 are then swung finally home so that the latch tongue members 55 secured to eachrend of the front and :rear rail members-33 and 34 "by-suitable.wood-screws -5-'l,-Fig. 5, and having the. tongues 58 and 59 .swing into full engagedposition t33c,;liig.- 7, with the elongated plate members 2| so as to securely lock thefront and rear rail imembersswith-the:side frame members, as best-seen inFigs-c, 5-,and; "7. The taperededges 5|! associated: with the tongues 58 and, 59 wedge.

into-the endsatl of the elongatedslots .25 and 26 to forms. positivelocking structure which-is. maintained in positive compression-intheslots Z5 and. 2fijbythe-aforementioned:toggle clamping arrangement shown-in Fig; 8. Thus shrinkage of thewood. or constantluseflof the.chair, cannot loose and. Wiggly. Furcause the chair to become then, any excessive userof thechair or shrinkage of the-woodman be readily. takcnvcare of by loosening. the screwsv 39 and readjustingthemember 4| to give the proper toggle action for forcefullylholding .atall-times the front and rear. side railwmeinbersi 33 and-34 with? their tongues 58 and 59 into positive engagementv .with .the slots 25 andxzii of thememberfil .of the .sideframe members'ofzthe-chair.

There has thus :been provided a highly efficient and. adjustable apparatus'for at all times maintaining-arigidchair structure for a knock-down chair .or' furniturerarrangement. Y

While the apparatus hereindisclosed and dc scribed constitutes a preferred-form 'of the invention, it is also :to be-understood'that the apparatus is capable of meehanicalalteration without departing fromthespirit of the invention and thatr'such: mechanical "arrangement and commerciahadaptationzas fall within the scope of the appendent' claims-rarerrintendedr-to be included herein. 1

Having thus;;f-.ully set forth: and described this inventionwhatis claimed as newand desired to be obtainedby :UnitedStates Letters Patent is:

1. In an article :of furniture comprising a chair structureczhaving, a back: member, and a pair of side; framermem-bers including. front a and, back legs, means for interconnecting'saidrback and side.

frame membersyia seat.:member-,.dowel means in the'top-of the frcntrlegscof' said sideframe mam-.

bers engaging matingtdowel holes .in the-under side of the front portion. of said. seat.=member, abutment surfaces on the. rear :portionlof' said seat member facing rearwardlyand outwardly engagingthe front and'interfacescof the back legs of said side frame members,"interconnecting front and rear rail members pivotally mounted on the underside of said'seat member'latchingly engaging the legs of said side'frame members; and locking means interconnected:betweenrthe underside of said seat-and each of said fronttandrear rail member for holding: saidifrontt and .rear rail;

2,669,295 v members in engagement with said legs of side i locking means for moving said front and rear frame members. rails into downwardly swung latched position, 2. In a chair structure comprising a back memcomprising a toggle action clamp device having at her, a pair of side frame members, front and rear 7 hinge connection on said seat and a second hinge legs and side rail on said side frame members, connection on said front and rear rail members, means for demountably interconnecting said back an intermediate hasp member having a toggle member, latching means on the outer ends of said 10 tively adjusting the pivotal Connections 011 s d side frame members, and a locking device interdev ceconnected between the underside of said seat and In a knock-down Chair a emb y pr s said front and rear rail members for securing said a back m m a p d f m members, latching means on said rail members to said matmeans for demountably t co nectin Sai ing latching'means on the sid rails of side frame back and Said Side frame m a Seat mmembers ber, dowel means interconnecting the front edge 3. A kno k-d h ir assembly comprising, of said seat at each corner with said side frame eat membe a b k member, pair of side frame members, abutment surfaces on said seat memperforations adjacent said legs adapted to receive limiting the movement of said t; and clamp re i members h swung to [a downwardly ing said clamp finger relative to said hasp memdepending locked position, and locking means interconnected between said seat and said front and In erknoek-downehair assembly comprising r a il members for moving said fr nt and rear a back member, a pair of side frame members,

rails into downwardly swung depending latched means for demolmtably t nne t ng said position. back and side frame members, a-seat member,

4. A knock-down chair assembly comprisin a dowel means interconnecting the front edge of eat b back member, a pair of side fram said seat at each corner with said side frame members, means fo demountably jnter nne t members, abutment surfaces on said seat meming said back and side frame members, side rails engaging between and h front faces of the said front and rear rail members are swung from movement of Said D and Clamp finge memhaving a hing connection on said seat and a sectongues mating latch meajns having Slotted toggle pivot t a clamp finger and Stop means relationship therewith under the influence of on said clamp finger to limit said toggle motion a toggle acting locking deviceto a predetermined locked position. WILLIAM L. SHEPHERDSQN,

5. A knock-down chair assembly comprising a seat member, a back member, a pair of side frame Refeljences (med m the file of thls patent members, means for demountably interconnect- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing said back and side frame members, side rails on said side frame members, a front rail, a rear gg gb Name Apr rail, means for pivotally mounting each of said 370:265 gffi sept' 1887 rails on the under side of said seat member, latch 327 398 schrenkeigfl '3 1906 means on the outer ends of said front and rear 1674220, Percival June 1928 rail members, mating latch means on the inner 2432266 Wflkinso;1 Dec 9 1947 sides of said side rails of said side frame members Wilkinson 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS and rear rail members are swung from a horizon- Number Country Date tal to a downwardly pending locked position, and 18,687 Great Britain 1905 

